But because of encroachment he was made to take it again, and this time he sent the Carlisle keeper the wrong way to give the visitors a cushion they needed.

The Cumbrians kept at it with star man Craig Farrell scoring four minutes from time, but they failed to beat the clock.

From the opening 10 minutes and that late spell, both inspired by Farrell, the Cumbrians were second best. Two great attempts from Farrell in the first four minutes, the second producing a fine tip-over save from keeper Darryl Flahavan, looked promising.

But Southend - more accurate with the ball, more imaginative without it, and dominating the midfield - had United forced to make some last-ditch blocking tackles inside their own box.

Yet ironically Carlisle had the best chance in the 31st minute when Brendan McGill played Kevin Langmead through on the right.

He tried to place his shot across the oncoming keeper and was wide of the far post.

Carlisle's cause wasn't helped when midfield dynamo Chris Billy pulled up in some distress chasing a ball and was stretchered off in the 37th minute with Paul Arnison coming on.

The dangerous Constantine should have put Southend in front immediately after the interval.

He outpaced Murphy through the middle onto a ball from Maher to lob the oncoming Glennon but over the crossbar. He made amends three minutes later, weaving through a static United backline to slot the ball in.

He was there again in the 63rd minute to beat keeper Glennon, but Brian Shelley cleared off the line. The sense of injustice after the second Southend goal produced some late urgency from the Cumbrians.

When the Southend defenders misjudged the bounce of a lofted McGill cross, Farrell turned on the ball to hit a peach of a goal. Referee Lee Mason, castigated by Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock in midweek, was under fire again from Carlisle boss Paul Simpson.

Simpson said after the game: "The penalty was an incredible decision and ultimately one that cost us a point. I find it hard to believe, and I can't think of any time in my career that I've seen a decision given like that.

"Our player blocked the shot with his foot and the ball bounced onto his hand.

"The same referee was slaughtered in midweek but nothing at all will happen to him and he will have another game next weekend."